Disney have announced plans for a new Star Wars trilogy to be produced after the completion of Episode IX in 2019. This comes ahead of Star Wars: The Last Jedi hitting cinemas this December on the 15th.
Disney have announced plans for a new Star Wars trilogy to be produced after the completion of Episode IX in 2019.
Rian Johnson, who directed the soon-to-be-released Star Wars: The Last Jedi, will have full control over the trilogy.
While set in the same universe, the trilogy is said to be a brand-new instalment with never-before-seen characters. This will give Johnson free rein in how to expand the franchise.
With no clear indication of when the trilogy will be set, all that’s left is speculation. Due to the large opportunity to carry on with Rey, Finn and Poe’s story after Episode IX, it’s unlikely that the new trilogy will chronologically follow the latest film.
It would make sense for Johnson to set the films at any unexplored history point. That way there would be no worry about creating problems for the existing plotlines. But with an entire galaxy to explore, anything is possible.
It remains to be seen what the new trilogy will be about, but it’s been confirmed that the films will no longer follow the story of the Skywalker’s.
Johnson has many options. If he sets the movies in untold history, he can do anything without interfering with the Skywalker’s and their current struggles.
This ancient historical setting also has the potential to show the original rise of the Jedi, when they first learned to harness the Force.
Johnson could also set the films at the same time as the originals. The galaxy is huge, and the main war doesn’t impact every system. These new films can simply be set in a remote part of the galaxy that’s barely touched by the main storyline.
The struggle for Johnson will be trying to create a Star Wars story without it relating to the original Star Wars. Luckily the director has an ability to build interesting characters alongside an intricate plotline.
Since the films will not be put into production for another couple of years, it will be a long wait before anything concrete is revealed. Between now and then, Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits cinemas this December on the 15th. Following close behind on May 25th, 2018, is the Han Solo movie. Almost a year later is Star Wars: Episode IX, released on May 23rd, 2019.